Sporting KC sign Colombian midfielder Medranda to multi-year deal

Sporting Kansas City have locked in another piece to their midfield with less than a month until the Major League Soccer season officially kicks off.

The club announced Thursday they have signed 20-year-old midfielder Jimmy Medranda to a multi-year deal after acquiring the Colombian last August on loan from Deportivo Pereira.

“Jimmy is a good, young talent with a lot of potential,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said in a statement. “It was a goal of ours to try to re-sign him at the end of this season as a Sporting Kansas City player as opposed to being on loan. We’re excited to have been able to accomplish that goal.”

Medranda made just one appearance for Sporting KC last season, coming off the bench in a 3-0 victory against the Columbus Crew in September. He was the youngest player to appear at the first team level for the club in 2013.

“I am very happy to be here. I am happy to be back in the city and with my teammates again, now officially as a player for Sporting Kansas City,” Medranda said in the same release. “I am going to work hard and do what is best for the team.”

The midfielder was present at training Tuesday after joining the team in Kansas City on Monday. Vermes told SBI then that a deal was close to being inked, adding, “him being back here is a good sign.”

That’s where you get the bargains. A salary capped league like MLS needs to get as many bargain players in as possible especially in high skill countries like Colombia and Argentina. MLS lacks great ball skills, so if you can cheaply inject more skill and attractive soccer into the league, it’s a win-win. If he winds up developing and being sold for a big salary, it’s pure profit.